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July 31, 2006

Cracking knuckles and creaking joints

Argh - I don't like the sound. Someone cracks the knuckles. Pulling the fingers. In my mind, I see them suddenly disconnecting. Oops - imagine you have the front in your finger in one hand and the part still attached to the other hand.

My kid likes to do it. I heard before, a long, long, long time back that this can cause rheumatism.

Now, LiveScience has published a related article that helps me in understanding what happens when one cracks the knuckles - gas.

"As you bend your fingers, the joint capsule stretches. To make more room for the stretch, gases release out of the fluid. The pop of your knuckles is the sound of gas as it bubbles out of the fluid, scientists say. Before your knuckle can crack again, the fluid must reabsorb the gas."

It doesn't answer all my questions if it is healthy or not. In fact, it supports both views: One that it doesn't matter if someone cracks, and the other, that it is harmful.

"Scientists have conducted few studies on whether cracking your knuckles can cause arthritis or otherwise harm your hands. Some studies suggest that you can snap your knuckles all you wish, and it won't cause osteoarthritis. However, other studies indicate that around-the-clock cracking may damage the soft tissue around the joints, make your hand swell, and weaken your grip."

Posted by Andreas at 05:32 PM | Comments (2)

How many times do you need to proof read a document?

I won't answer the question, but - do you actually proof read what you wrote? Or do you depend on Microsoft's word speller?

I think it is important to proof read anything send out - even a blog (something that I neglect too often). For some simple reasons.

Your mind gets used to what you have read and quickly starts to overlook obvious mistakes. You wrote it, what? Got mistakes? No lah!! Then, quickly flipping through the text, signing the letter and sending it out. Or clicking the send-buttong.

Remeber those jokes that are circulated across the web with a lot of spelling mistakes inside that say that the brain only needs to read the beginning of a word and its end to understand it? The same is true with mistakes, only that here, the brain just ignores your mistake.

What to do?

Well, have a short break in between. Don't just send, straight away. Go drink a coffee! Read the text slowly - reaaaalllll sloooooowwwwwwlllllyyyy! If you can, read it out loud to you! Have someone else read your material.

And, if you are lucky, you find the mistake that was hidden in the last line. After you proof-read the text 50 times!













Posted by Andreas at 09:20 AM | Comments (2)

July 28, 2006

Worst Phone Calls Ever

Cold calling.

Umph. Did you ever do it?

Pick up the phone and call someone who does or doesn't know you? It is tough business, especially if it has to provide you with a living. Like telemarketers. Like - financial advisors. Oh, oh, as a foreigner in Malaysia, I get plenty of those - they always think I have plenty of cash aside to invest in some dubious or less dubious schemes.

I only had one call recently that I liked. A woman from the UK. I told her that I am here in Malaysia for a long time and that I really have nothing to invest. She said - oh, than you must get plenty of calls such as mine. I confirmed. She continued: I guess it is not much fun. I agreed. She didn't push further and said bye-bye. I was happy.

Rarely do I see or hear someone like this.

Well, here is a webpage that has a collection of the worse cold calls ever. Enjoy - do you find yourself?

Posted by Andreas at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)

X-Rays and obesity

Obesity is a global issue and probably related to urbanisation and globalisation.

A side effect is that "hospitals may be missing small tumours in obese patients because the patients either can't fit into an X-ray scanner or the machine has trouble penetrating the fat."

Change your lifestyle, once again!

Posted by Andreas at 02:08 PM | Comments (0)

Thank God It's Friday

Somehow people are different on a Friday. It is the feeling of a weekend closing in, the feeling of freedom from work and nothing else to do but having fun.

Even the sun is shining today.

The honking of the cars sounds different in my office. People smile, are happier, the foodcourst are packed and nearly everybody takes longer breaks.

The passion for a weekend is rolling in.

It is interesting, isn't it, how people get excited to get out of work.

Just imagine a business that is able to capture this Friday passion, Friday enthusiasm, Friday motivation and Friday excitement of an employee for their purpose? Any business that manages this would basically double or triple its revenue!

So what is your business doing to entice the engagement and motivation of your employees?

Posted by Andreas at 12:04 PM | Comments (1)

My sweet coffee in my big mug

Wayooo, I actually drink coffee very sweet. Very, very sweet, started doing this after I arrived in Malaysia, way, way back.

I cannot stand the real taste of coffee, it is just too bitter, but then, I drink a lot of it as well. And when I drink too much, I cannot stand the feeling in my stomach if it gets upset.

So what do I do?

A use a little coffee only, and add on:

1.5 spoons of sugar
2 spoons of milk powder
2 BIG spoons of Milo or chocolate powder.

I need a big mug, because, honestly, half the cup is filled with powder, once I am finished putting in this ingredients.

Sweet, that my toe nails roll up to my knees. But no sign of bitterness. Hmmmmm.

Posted by Andreas at 10:05 AM | Comments (3)

July 27, 2006

Getting out of bad moods

A mood is a State of Mind, according to NLP. So you can chose your mood, any time you like. Most of us will not chose to be sad, or doubtful, purposely. Well, may be sometimes you need to, or it is wise to do as, for instance, it is not good to be happy during a burial, or when something really bad happened.

But mostly, I wouldn't get up in the morning and say - "Okay, today I want to be sad the whole day." Or angry. Instead, I chose to be what I want to be throughout the day and I be it. Professional, focussed, etc. In between, I can chose a different state of mind, when required. Like, when an employee comes to me and shares some grievances.

I developed a certain routine to get into the State that I want. One is my own personal Circle of Excellence - being in a state of excellence is one wise way to do. Moreover, it is driven by my own internal desire.

I am also very much dependent on music - aren't we all? I grew up with music, hung around plenty of amateur bands when I still lived in Germany and always, always, always sang along great songs - to the dismay of my friends, or now, kid and wife, mostly totally out of tune. But music is so easy to bring up feelings, and memories. And I use it every time I need it. I am totally anchored to it, as we say in NLP.

I remember times, when I was sad in Germany, for certain reasons. May be my girlfriend broke up with me, or I had bad results in school, or wass simply in a bad mood for no reasons at all. I actually had a ritual to get me out of there. Starting with sad music, going really down into a miserable mood, and then, slowly, building up the rock. Faster and faster and dancing and singing along. I remember that one of the songs that I listened to was Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now". It was one of the last pieces that I played, when I was already high up in the air again. The feeling of no one can stop me. Even now, when I listened to the song, I still feel the drive, the memories flooding back and it makes me feel great!

Even today, I still have my songs to wake me up, prepare me for conferences, meetings or difficult calls. I won't tell you which songs, because there are many, from old times and new times, from popular to hard rock or alternative. But it is amazing to just listen to the music, groove along and feel reaaaaaal good in it.

Posted by Andreas at 10:15 AM | Comments (3)

July 25, 2006

Shut up, when there is nothing to say

We talk. Endlessly. If someone is quiet for a while, we feel compelled to fill the silence. Just to say something. It makes us feel awkward to sit there and be quiet for a while, to feel and enjoy the silence. To know that the other person might need to ponder about a response.

Often, we break the silence.

Then, oftentimes, after we spoke, we regret that we said something. Our inner voice tells us - "Damn, I should have just kept my mouth shut."

Do you know what I am talking about?

In a relationship, when you know that the word you are bound to say is hurting the most. How often are we saying something then, and wooms, hell breaks lose.

In a sales environment, after the perfect presentation, you ask for the sale and the client doesn't respond immediately. Stays quiet. And quiet. The seconds seem to get longer and longer. And, suddenly, you blurr out, try to justify the price, the sale, the ANYTHING. Instead of staying quiet.

Sometimes, it is just enough to be quiet. And let silence talk. Silence is golden, sometimes at least. But, it is an art to stay quiet.

Can you recall a similar situation?

Posted by Andreas at 06:15 PM | Comments (3)

July 24, 2006

Why you should never get a job

Great and simple insight by Steve Pavlina on "Why you should never get a job."

Something so clear and yet so easy to forget. It is easier than ever to start a business. There are opportunities everywhere. And one thing for certain. It is tough to get fired from your own business. The only thing that than counts is the net income it generates, which tend to happen if you have happy customers and greatly performing employees.

No fear for anything else. If you ever have the feeling that you SHOULD do your own business, do it. Go, do it now, or start building it up. Every day, there are thousands who do it as well. And the worse thing that can happen to you in your life is to look back at your life when you are close to your end and say - I SHOULD have done it. Damn it!

I am working on my future and this is what is happening in my life. And I am getting closer, every day and every minute. Where are you, then?

Posted by Andreas at 03:20 PM | Comments (1)

Zombies in your head

I have been fascinated lately, just looking at people. Looking into their eyes and seeing different things. Fear, confusion, weariness, or, alternatively, confidence, energy, fun, passion and compassion.

How does this happen that there are so many people look differently at the world, have different perception of the world?

It is the way we evaluate the events that come to us and enter our body through the different senses. We classify, organise and segment those events and then, finally, judge them, according to what we perceive to be true.

There was a time, when this was different. When nothing hold you back, when anyone just goes for it. A time, when it didn't matter that you fall on your backside when you started to learn something new. When curiosity drove your behaviour.

This was the time before school, before educational rules and regulations, before all the "Don't do this" and "don't do that" of uncles and aunties. A care-free time.

Over time, neurochemicals and electrical activity in your mind started to implement filters on your world. You learnt to distort, generalise and delete incoming information. Your mind had to do it, because simply, you would be overwhelmed if it wouldn't do it. There are two million bits of information per second that the brain has to come to terms with - information from your internal and external world.

The brain is not able to hold onto all the information at once, but need to impose order onto it. Especially since it can only hold 7 +/- 2 pieces of information at any one time, equivalent about 134 kb!! Imagine that! From 2 million bits of information down to 134 kb. You do the math, will you? Than you know how much is taken away.

So the brain imposes an order onto it - so what? I talked about filters above, and that these filters determine how we see, and evaluate the world and label our experiences. the 134 kbs that are left are the way we see the world.

What is the impact? Ever wondered why people describe the same event differently? Be it a car accident, be it a movie, be it a political situation.

That is the way they look at the world and how they filter information!

That is the impact of these zombies in your head. It is so very easy to see the different filters at work, when someone writes blogs.

If someone has been trained to see things in a negative or positive light, everything is negative or positive. If someone was told, often enough, that he or she is a no good, sure they doubt themselves, are constantly worried or question their own behaviour.

There is nothing wrong with that, that is not what I am saying. But the challenge is to understand and possibly change those limited beliefs - they are holding us - you, me and everyone else - back in our development.

They are like clusters in our mind. They are the zombies in our mind that question our actions. The zombies that don't allow us to see the miracles all around us. The zombies that are hiding from our discovery because they are burried deep, deep inside of our mind, even so they are so visible in all your actions, behaviours, words and values.

The zombies that I can see when I look into your eyes, because that is how you look at the world. May be to be fascinated is the wrong word then. More, a sadness inside of me because there is always, always so much greatness inside all humans. Onle that this greatness has been burried by limited beliefs that hold us back.

(Addition: The intention of this entry is to indicate belief systems in other blogs as I perceive them to be. I am not judging those blog entries or their owners and in fact, value the authors by opening up their values to others. They are asking the right questions and are on the way to see positive change in their world. ).

Posted by Andreas at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)

July 20, 2006

Short or long training?

Different organisations offer NLP certificates but some offer the same certificate in 5 days versus a longer period of time, say, 12 days.

The effects on the participants of the course are very different, as I can see when I compare my own earlier training with the training in which I happened to be a facilitator.

While I talk about NLP here, I believe that this applies to other training offers as well. It might even apply for workshops in companies.

Let me outline the pro and con of both, starting with the longer timeframe.

A training in Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP is stretching for participants. For one, the participants discover a lot of new stuff inside and outside of them. NLP plays with your brain, enhances your thinking, eliminates limited beliefs, but also makes you look differently at the world and other people. With greater understanding, so to speak. In addition to this and because you are opening up so much to other participants and the trainer, participants often win friends for life. Hey - I remember my training sessions and am still very close and very much in touch with the participants. It is this opening, this transformation of participants that makes NLP so beautiful. Moreover, there are so many changes in people's life after participating in a course. Many climb the career ladder, find new meanings in their life, get higher sales, be in a happier relation and marriage - this is so because NLP is able to transcend any sphere of life. And because it is applicable to anything in life. Why not? If people say: "I can't get this sale" or "I will never be able to make it to the stage to present" or "I am not smart" or "I simply cannot do this" - these are limited beliefs and any good NLP practitioner can identify those and is able to help, if help is required or wanted. As simple as that!

Now, this is also the difference to a short course. Here, participants are required to read material, e.g.; books, before the course about NLP, its exercises and function. But then, it is the challenge to translate what you read into a real life situation, the how-to-do's. It is not always easy to map the learning from one book into your real life. Okay, not for everyone but for some. Next, the inter-group participation, the learning from each other is simply not there. Not always there. Okay, participants bond in some way but in a different way than you do when you are in a long course.

During the 5 days of the course (in Melaka), the trainer is asking the participants to conduct one exercise after the next, and not often explains the real background to the changes that are happining. This might be fine for some or many, of course, and some of the participants will run with it and see changes in their life - but what about the others?

As such, I am really for longer courses. Not necessarily in a stretch because it is difficult or challenging for participants to have such long time off from work. Especially when they have to travel. I am thinking of changing the whole structure of trainings once I have become an NLP trainer on my own. For me, the most important part is that participants really, really get it in my training. This is my value to them, this is my mission, and my gratitude. My gratitude, because they are going to spend time with me instead of somewhere else. What more can I give to them than to see their transformation!

World, watch out, here I come - a new trainer that is going to change the world, or, to start with, the participants in my training :).

Posted by Andreas at 10:08 AM | Comments (1)

July 18, 2006

Of Bomohs and hypnosis

Yesterday, the NewsStraits Times published an article about "gullible" victimes who fall prey to some out for quick money.

First of all, it is the victim's belief that makes them not seeing the obvious, but believe those that are out to harm them. When you believe it, you will see it. As simple as that. If you believe the world is bad, you will see the bad things all around you. If you believe the world is good, you start to see the things that are positive and bright side of life. It is, of course not easy to change a lifelong belief just by changing the thought alone. That means those people that had sex with bomohs to get rid of evil spirits really believed in it, despite everything that was told. Hey - Bill Gates had to see the importance of the Internet before he embarked on it.

Once upon a time, there were people that believed the world is flat and that, if you go out too far, you can fall down from the plate. Remember, that may be a while ago, you still believed in Santa Claus (sorry for those that still believe it: he doesn't exist. There were resembling characters a long time ago, so!).

Anyway - let's go back to the bomohs. A common belief might be that these victims were hypnotised. Not true.

A nice description is this one:

"Fact is that hypnosis is a genuine psychological phenomenon that leads a person into a highly focused state of concentration and attention, often associated with relaxation and suggestibility.

People in hypnosis remain in control of themselves and wouldn't do anything they would normally find morally objectionable. All hypnosis is actually self hypnosis with the hypnotherapist acting as a guide to direct your concentration toward the area of change that a person wishes to work on. It's important to remember that hypnosis is not magic, but instead a tool that when used properly over time, can help people break unhealthy habits, overcome insomnia, recall memories and as an anesthetic for managing pain."

It is bad enough that these people have been cheated, really. It is a lesson hard learnt and I hope they got the lesson. But, whatever you believe, it is not hypnosis.

Posted by Andreas at 04:44 PM | Comments (2)

Business cards

Business cards are important in my life. The main challenge is that they tend to grow :) . Where there was one yesterday, there are 2, 3, 4 or more tomorrow.

It is the management of those cards that is important. Before this gets out of hand, lol.

I have different systems in my life to manage the cards, but managing the number of cards is dramatic. Mostly, I would like to type them into my PDA but boy, this is so time-intensive.

Not only do I type the person's details from the card, but also the where and how I met them, and a short conversational outline of what we talked.

But it needs to be done. Administrative details and I cannot run away from them. Any idea on how to manage it best, besides hiring an administrative assistant?

Posted by Andreas at 09:04 AM | Comments (3)

July 17, 2006

Getting inside their head with writing

It is so important to get the message right in whatever you write. You know why? Look at the way you read your mails. Somehow along the line, we are not trained to speed read or to capture the whole meaning of a document in its whole.

Instead, we are reading word, by word, by word. Some read faster, some read slower but all we do is to repeat the message with the voice in our head. So right now, you were reading "most of us repeat the message with the voice in our head."

Who is the person you, or your subconscious mind, believes most? Most of you will say - "I trust me, I believe me."

Now, when you read the text, the message or the voice of the author is in your mind. Silently, you repeat his message, the message of the author.

How powerful, if the message that is stated on the paper/ screen/ mobile phone is strong and convincing. The writer's voice or intention is in the reader's mind.

Wah ---- Imagine that.

That is where hypnotic language comes in. If you are able to write a message hypnotically, your message goes straight into the recipient's mind. And the mind is than not listening to some boring salesperson, but to its "owner." This is happening with messages that are not even covered up - but those that stare at you, in black and white, from the page or the screen in front of you.

Interesting, isn't it?

So, the challenge of course is to know what makes the recipient tick before you embark on writing a mail, SMS or letter.

What is driving the recipient? It is easy to see when you had have a conversation with the recipient already - you give back their words, in one way or another. Why? Because that is the way they wrote it to you, duh! Change it a bit here and there but when you find something that seems important to them, give it back to them.

These are the words that they liked. So why not repeating them?

If you do not know their style, still, you want to be careful about your writing style. You can use hypnotic language patterns to get the message across, because this will surely work. Don't you think?

Posted by Andreas at 03:23 PM | Comments (0)

New job responsibilities

Ha - I finally made the move. Away from my nagging customer that kept driving me up the wall. The moment we in the team delivered something perfectly fine, the goalpost shifted. Not in the way that we had to develop more value the next time around, but the more, more, more into the agreed upon work.

And, of course, nothing that is being paid. All extra work, which kept distracting us from the next steps of the project and reduced the profit margin.

Now, instead of running a global and very administratively driven project, I am responsible for the business development of a business tool suite of the company.

Fun!

Meeting people, discussing their requirements, customising the approach and delivering material.

Variety!

Not just one client but more, more, more, since there are plenty of companies in Malaysia (duh!).

Future chances!

Since a lot of the work that I am doing involves plenty of people in the respective organisation, I can look ahead and continue developing my own business in the respective area.

Why am I happy?

Because things fall, once again, into place. I am peoples-oriented, like to build and develop businesses, and it ties in with my future!

Posted by Andreas at 09:01 AM | Comments (1)

July 14, 2006

NLP trainings and the way forward to overcome pain

When I went to the NLP training last weekend, as facilitator, I recognised two main things.

The first is that there were participants that were willing to change. They realised that they have to change something in their life - and the life of the loved ones, may be - and in their own. This is important.

I also found out that they had a lot of limited beliefs before joining the training, and I believe that they are not alone in this world with their limited beliefs. There were comments from participants about how the felt small and insignificant before the training, how much anger was inside of them, how they lacked confidence, or how they didn't know where to go.

Many, many felt relieved in the end of the training and new that they had initiated changes. That was the good part. Trainings in Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP have the ability to transform personalities and give participants what they need and searched for.

I did my original training with NLP about two years back and I still feel it vibrating in my veins, and how it still helps me to transform my life on a constant basis (how else could I coach with NLP?). The requirements after any training is that you use what you learnt immediately. Even NLP, and even if NLP has been pushed down to a cellular level. The good part for me was that my trainer pushed it down via hypnotic sessions and that all what I learnt is still available to me when I need it - and comes out stronger and stronger and I get better and better.

The difference to other trainings is that NLP trainings leave a lasting impression and they enable participants to become flexible in any situation. Situations change, any minute of any day. It is most important to be flexible many times a day in your attitude and ultimately, in your behaviour towards yourself and others.

The difference to other trainings is that those trainings (e.g.; "traditional" sales trainings, self-help trainings) leave a script behind that participants can use. The challenge is that those scripts need changing based on contexts of situations - a one side fits all never helps. But, however, participants often only learn one set for many different situations.

Still there are challenges in NLP trainings. For the time being, the participants will move on with their life, and feel greatly empowered. Many will try to use NLP techniques in their life, personal or business. That is the wrong approach. NLP is not a technique to use, but a way to see the world with different eyes, endless curiosity and greater understanding. If participants understand this, they will go a long way.

It starts by understanding the pain that they are carrying within themselves and to learn just to let go. They have the tools, of course, and the patterns to apply. They now just need to use it more and more to live and regenerate their new life. Which means, for many, that there are great changes ahead - and change is always a lot of fun.

Those that I trained with, earlier, and that used NLP in their life experienced great changes. Some were promoted, others became self-employed, others found themselves and became very successful with their own identity and so on. They are the living proof that NLP works.

Posted by Andreas at 07:05 PM | Comments (1)

July 13, 2006

England's soccer and its relation to real-life situations

Adoh - something carries me into the soccer arena and I don't know why? I haven't posted anything regarding the world cup and start now, after all is finished an over?

Nevertheless, I found this interesting press release from someone in the UK on the state of the British team and their performance.

Interesting, because it has a relation to nice real-life situations.

"Take the infamous penalty shoot-out. Fans are regularly disgusted by the inability of their heroes—men who are, after all paid millions purely to kick footballs—to perform this simple task. More practice, they cry! We have been practicing, replies Sven. But does anyone believe that someone like Frank Lampard can actually get physically better at this task if he just puts a few hours in?

A good motivational trainer or NLP practitioner could sort this one out in minutes, even if they didn’t even know what a penalty kick was. England’s management have failed to resolve the issue in eight years, because they see it as a footballing problem—so the answer must be: more football.

What I shall call the “more X” factor is a common failing among businesses. Having decided on a strategy—X—and found it to be falling short, the answer is simple: “more X” (and then more, and more, until the market puts you out of your misery). In the case of England and Sven Goran Eriksson, the paradox that has everyone scratching their heads is how, in an era when England seems to have been particularly blessed with superstar performers, did we underperform so spectacularly?"

What do you do when you underachieve? You study harder, you work harder - in short: you oftentime try more of the same.

It didn't work before, so do you think more of the same will work? Sending your kid to more tuition, working more hours until the early morning? Launching more products when earlier one failed to meet the demand? Plastering the newspapers with Job Openings when earlier job opening failed to generate responses?

It is easy to do the same over and over again and blame, well, the bad outside world for your misery. What has happened so, is that you have overlooked one major learning.

The one major learning that can change your life. It didn't work that way, so let's try it another way. Because at least you know that one thing didn't work. One reminder to change the way of going about things. Change, the dreadful "C" word.

What does it mean for the British team? May be they should have changed their coach earlier. May be they should have worked with psychologists to improve their mental power.

Or, hehe, may be they should have hired me. Now that is something.

Posted by Andreas at 02:59 PM | Comments (0)

Zizou's head-butt

I wonder, I really wonder.

Apparently, Zizou's (shortform for Zinedine Zidane) coach said that he understands Zizou's head-butt against his Italian opponent in the world-cup final France against Italy. It was just a few minutes left to the end of the game and Zizou would have been one of those guys needed for the upcoming penalty shootout. So he was send off.

France lost 5 : 3 in the end. If Zinedine Zidane would have been around, the mental health of his team would have been stronger and surely, the chances of him missing a penalty are slim.

He is highly paid, and he has a coach.

But what coach is he that he understands this action? I can understand a lot and a lot was going on in the final minutes of the game. Zidane was offended, and constantly insulted by his opponent. His pride was at stake, for sure and his mother, wife and sister badly insulted.

But in the end, he is responsible for the outcome he achieves. He choose to hit out.

In any thing that is happening, there is always a cause and an effect. A simple function of C/E. If you are feeling subjected to forces outside of you, that you blame are outside of your influence (government, sport, employer, client, school, you name it), you are at the effect side - the results of something. Something that you say you have no control over. What those "things" do to you is "making you sick", "they are unfair", "they treat you badly", "you gotta get back to them", and so on. Poor thing - you are living your life as a subject to something.

It is hard to do, but way more rewarding to say - I take responsibilty, I am 100% in charge of my life, I am designing my life, I change what I can change, I am not a blamer but will have the attitute, the strength and the integrity to do what I can do to make my life better.

Hey - simply, to make your life a WoW!

That means that while it might hurt badly to be insulted, to have your wife, kids, sister and mother getting insulted, not to go down to that low level, but walk proudly and strong and unaffected. Concentrating on what I want to achieve. In Zizou's case - he wanted to hold the World Cup in his hands. He should have focussed on that only and nothing else. Sure, it was hard, very hard, but then, isn't it even harder now?

So a coach shouldn't understand such behaviour, but get rid of it. Move his patient, player, whatever, to the Cause Side of things, and away of feeling exposed to circumstances that are away from your potential influence. To design the life and be powerful in times of adversity. Or, simply, to win the World Cup.


Addition

If I gave the impression that I only blame Zidane than I have to apologise. I believe the same reasons are valid for his "opponent". No reason to be insulting, offensive or unfair.












Posted by Andreas at 11:25 AM | Comments (4)

July 12, 2006

After the bombing of Mumbai - an email from a friend

Similar to the events after the bombing of London last year, when We Are Not Afraid was formed, I now received an e-mail from a friend that is taking rounds in the Internet.

It is an message to the terrorists that their acts are useless and won't cause disruptions.

Read it and feel moved:

"Subject: A letter from Bombay

Dear Terrorist,

Even if you are not reading this we don't care. Time and again you tried to disturb us and disrupt our life - killing innocent civilians by planting bombs in trains, buses and cars. You have tried hard to bring death and destruction, cause panic and fear and create communal disharmony but everytime you were disgustingly unsuccessful. Do you know how we pass our life in Mumbai? How much it takes for us to earn that single rupee? If you wanted to give us a shock then we are sorry to say that you failed miserably in your ulterior motives. Better look elsewere, not here.

We are not Hindus and Muslims or Gujaratis and Marathis or Punjabis and Bengaliies. Nor do we distinguish ourselves as owners or workers, govt. employees or private employees. WE ARE MUMBAIKERS (Bombay-ites, if you like). We will not allow you to disrupt our life like this. On the last few occassions when you struck (including the 7 deadly blasts in a single day killing over 250 people and injuring 500+ in 1993), we went to work next day in full strength. This time we cleared everything within a few hours and were back to normal - the vendors placing their next order, businessmen finalizing the next deals and the office workers rushing to catch the next train. (Yes the same train you targetted)

Fathom this: Within 3 hours of the blasts, long queues of blood donating volunteers were seen outside various hospital, where most of the injured were admitted. By 12 midnight, the hospital had to issue a notification that blood banks were full and they didn't require any more blood. The next day, attendance at schools and office was close to 100%, trains & buses were packed to the brim, the crowds were back.
The city has simply dusted itself off and moved one - perhaps with greater vigour.

We are Mumbaikers and we live like brothers in times like this. So, do not dare to threaten us with your crackers. The spirit of Mumbai is very strong and can not be harmed.

Please forward this to others. U never know, by chance it may come to hands of a terrorist in Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iraq and he can then read this message which is specially meant for him!!!

With Love,

From the people of Mumbai (Bombay)"

My Condolences to those in Mumbai and my prayers are with you in time of needs

Posted by Andreas at 05:12 PM | Comments (0)

NLP training in Melaka

Having participated as facilitator in the NLP Practitioner Course last weekend, I have been invited to also participate in the respective Master Practitioner Course this coming weekend.

More fun and learning for me.

The refresher last weekend in Melaka was good (all besides the drivers, which appear to be those from outside Melaka).

Naturally I was worried that this is over might head. A fear discovered, which is something to work on. I mean, gosh, I knew there were 40 people in the room, all different individuals with different expectations and a well-known trainer. And there was me - just a somebody, lol. But hey, a somebody with a love for NLP, experience in training my own company (yeah, in my daytime job - a "normal" company with a very "normal business model") and a deep knowledge in what makes me strong.

How handy came my Circle of Excellence. I stepped into it the moment I stepped into the room. The trainer showcasted a technique at a person with the usual fast impact. She wanted to get rid of her coffee addiction and she got rid of it.

After entering the room and warming up a bit, I had a lot of fun being the "subject" for participants that didn't have a partner. It was good to also help them doing the different techniques correctly, when they got stuck. Hehe, over time, some realised or learnt that I have knowledge of NLP and more and more came to me to work with them or for a checkup. pad on my shoulder!!

I also learnt from the trainer. The good part is that there are different ways of enticing participants and different exercise styles, dependent on the trainer. So this is something that I can take away. Another useful thing is that William Horton's manual is short and mainly contains the techniques. I have manuals that are filled with exercises and theories about the working of the brain and NLP's impact on the structure of the neurons and synapsis. So I can use William Horton's manual as something like a dictionary. For me, this is useful, because I have the experience in NLP already. For others, I am not 100% sure and I think that depends on the set up of a training.

I am looking forward to this weekend again. New learnings and more interesting people to meet. WoW!!


Posted by Andreas at 02:29 PM | Comments (1)

July 11, 2006

NLP, the Circle of Excellence and helping a friend

NLPu defines anchoring as the "process of associating an internal response with some external environmental or mental trigger."

It works like Pavlov and the dogs: Someone is ringing a bell and the doggie knows that this is the sign that his meal is served. The saliver is running, basically.

Everybody is anchored to certain concepts - you see a red traffic light in front of you and know that you have to stop (well, not necessarily in Malaysia, but this is another story, hehe).

Others could be the boss that scolds you constantly, and instinctively, you dig in your heels, when you hear him or her approaching.

A third example is music - how many times do you hear a song that makes you happy, or other songs that make you sad, the moment you hear the tune starting? "Darling, remember this song, this was the one playing when you kissed me the first time?" - I guess you get the hint.

Now, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) is using the concept of anchoring in a manner that helps us to have strength when we need strength. This can be any time or when you want to have strength. Because, and this is a big because - we are also very often anchored to something negative. Think of your boss, your ex-lover, the cheating husband, the company that fired you, the area where you got robbed, the taxis that cheat you all the time, the shop that sold you the bad product. Basically, the list is endless.

More reasonable is to think of stage fright, fear of interviews, performance appraisals, the boss is calling you, your client is always angry when you deliver late or the cockroach that you cannot stand. Do you get headache, butterflies in your stomach just thinking of it?

These are negative anchors in our life!!

There are plenty of tools available in NLP to get into a state or a mindset to make you feel better when you enter situations that need powerful strength.

My favourite is called Circle of Excellence. A friend of mine, who is studying in the UK and has been invited for an interview has asked me to give her a tip on how to get rid of her nervousness. I wrote the mail and then thought that this is useful to be published here as well. So here it goes.

"Imagine a Circle in front of you, in any size you like. Colour it if you want, let it circling (mine is blue and is circling around like a ring of fire), put in noise or songs that you like - anything that makes it beautiful and very appealing to you.

Next, put in all the resources you need - for me, I remember times, when I presented and was successful, the times I succeeded with my NLP and coaching, times when I was successful in other areas. Something that made me feel good, basically.

So, what I am doing is putting in the right resources - confidence, power, energy, passion. This works for me.

Then I am stepping in - it is like a bath full of powerful solutions. I then really imagine something like a shower of power and resourcefulness and enjoy the feeling. Standing taller and stronger and really enjoy the feeling.

Initially, I put in one resources, such as confidence, then power, then, whatever I want. I repeat the process when required, until I really feel good - stepping out, getting more resources, stepping in etc.

In the beginning, it took me a while to really get started with it and feel the power- everytime I needed it, I had to imagine the ring by standing somewhere and stepping into it. Now, I just need to imagine a blue circling ring of fire in front of me. That's it for me - it works and I change immediately.

It might sound funny, but this is what is anchoring in NLP. Pavlov for beginners. We are all anchored to something in our life and more often than not, it is negative. So why not create something that is positive?"

Tell me - was this useful?

Posted by Andreas at 05:42 PM | Comments (1)

July 10, 2006

Comments from training participants

I am not a natural when it comes to blowing my horn about my success but here is something that I like to share.

A few comments from my recent practitioner classes of August 2009.

____________________________________________________________________________________________
“Andreas definitely walks the talk. He has extreme mastery level on the subject matter. He ensures that everyone understands the concept of NLP to the best. In short, thank You Andreas. You are a blessing!”

Norman J, Senior Director
____________________________________________________________________________________________
“Andreas takes time and ensures that we really understand the techniques and doing them correctly. He has the amazing ability to make us feel comfortable and connect with all participants. I felt already motivated and successful on the first day!”

Joanne T, Manager

____________________________________________________________________________________________
“Both you and Najwa are a great team! You have made me a “lighter” Person!”

Siu Ghim, Manager

____________________________________________________________________________________________
“Thank you Andreas and Najwa for an intriguing experience in showing me the way to achieve excellence in my work, life and relationships.”

Karen S., Senior Director

____________________________________________________________________________________________
“Andreas training is very informative and all the exercises gave me a first hand experience to apply the NLP knowledge that I’ve learned. He makes sure everyone gets what he or she came for.”

Boon Hun L, Student

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“Very skillful and constantly uses right and appropriate examples relevant to the course. Knows subject matter well.”

Ismail, Business Owner and Serial Entrepreneur

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Some additions from an earlier Sales Training that was based on the "Words That Change Minds" - Language and Behaviour Profile (LAB Profile)


Thanks for the 2 days program on NLP. I've learned heaps and am starting to apply it in my day to day conversation with people.

Bong Yew, Insurance Agent, Sarawak

____________________________________________________________________________________________
I indeed walked away with much info that we can apply right away... on my teleconference with clients, prospects and family and friends! I've always tried to stay on positive thinking and bright outlook. Until your power of WORDS and Language to reinforce in such a powerful and influential way. Just a restructuring. Sounds simple and common sense but need someone to point it out still! So, a big Thank You for your kind sharing and our management for the kind seminar opportunity. Please take care and we hope to hear more of your good sharing in future.

Kath Ho, Kuala Lumpur

____________________________________________________________________________________________


Let's continue with a letter from one of my practitioners - send sometimes in 2008:

Expanding your horizons - sharing a letter from a NLP Practitioner
A recent practitioner of mine was chased by her own high expectations. I wrote about it the other day. Being an in-house trainer with others, she had a perfect comparison. Perfect in the sense that she was new to the environment while her colleagues were kind of seasoned NLP trainers.

She admired them and was not able to reach her own stretch goals - which she measured on the feedback that she received from her trainees.

In our last NLP Certified Practitioner Course, she started to confront her perfectionism. Actually, she started to do so in a very perfect way, and it was a constant challenge to channel her own critical attitude into constructive ways.

Even when I knew that she had achieved her goal, she still was uncertain. It doesn't matter if I know because, hey, she needs to convince herself.

The day after the training, she had to conduct her own training. She has managed. A very significant improvement from an average rating of 70-75% feedback rating before the course to .... over 90% now. She reached her goals and allowed me to reproduce her email to me here.

"Hi everyone…

How’s life after NLP? Mine is great!! I finished my class last Friday but only today I managed to muster all my confident to look at the participant’s evaluation.

And the result………overall rating for the course is 90.8% and rating for instructor is 92.8%. That means…I met my goal!!! So….so…so happy. Thank you everyone for helping me during the course.

Andreas and Najwa, thank you for all your assistance during LAB and NLP. The amazing part is that on the last day, what people say to me is exactly what visualize and heard during the time line exercise.

It is really cool…..before you asked Andreas…yes I did anchored the feeling. Next will be Houston…..I’ll tell you the outcome once I’m back Cheers!!"

I am happy. Keep it up Shafinah!!"

_____________________________________________________________________________________

An SMS from another participant:

"Dear Andreas and Najwa. How are you guys doing? Hey sori 4 nt hvingresponded 2 ur emails, no, I ve not forgotten u but jus caught up w many activities... Jus wana let u knw dat d course changed me 4 d better & never regretted takin it, m handlin life challenges so muc better nw, thx t u guys, nlp, take care ya!! Stay Cool."

This is a message, from a woman, who, after the course, became a Datin, and one of Malaysia's Top 50 Women. A goal she had set out for herself in the course!!

____________________________________________________________________________________
Some other comments from my training participants:

Juliana, Student from Australia
"Andreas is very passionate & fun in teaching NLP. Does keep me keen to learn by heart. His guidance and support is tremendous and very descriptive in his teachings, relating to things that happens around us. "


Kathlyn, Global IT Company
"I like the class size. It promotes the building of relationships."

Michael H.
General Manager, of a global Market Research Company
“Andreas has the enthusiasm for his subject that explodes into your subconscious mind and really makes NLP real for me. I recommend this training for everyone who already thinks that they are great – because they will realise just how much better they will be.”

Nora A. H,
Counselor, Alumni Council
“Your passion and drive is extremely powerful and empowering. I enjoyed the classes.”

Margret L., Mind Passionist
"The trainer is very punctual and perfectionistic, also very accommodating to each individual trainee, helping each trainee in the relevant area of the trainee's strength and weaknesses."
____________________________________________________
Samuel G.
Analyst, Credit Company
"Andreas knowledge of subject matter is excellent."

VS T., Principle
Credit Company
"Andreas has been effective at making NLP techniques easy to follow. Good job!"

Joyce L., Analyst
Credit Company
"Good exercises to come together and learn topics for better performance in our day-to-day encounter."

Evan G, Marketing
"The training was conducted in an easy and simple to understand manner. Had great fun attending the seminar."

____________________________________________________
Sally O, regional IT company

"You are a very good trainer. Many thanks for the NLP training. Really appreciated it and hope that we could have more this kind of training in future."

Kathy L., regional MNC
"I really enjoyed the training and I think it really can add value to the team and also to me personally."

Andy P., global MNC

"I am using "the tools" shared and we’ve been openly analyzing ourselves among colleagues."

Senior Manager
"It changed the way I look at the world. from yesterday onwards, I will be more observant and try to analyze other people more… Will also at a more conscious state when I move my body….body language will be more or less affected and I now know why my brother-in-law likes to look at the ceiling when I asked him questions."

_________________________________________
Others:
"I basically liked all the training subject – the contents, the way they were presented and “role play”.


1. Director, Events Company
"Very attentive in answering questions."

2. Director, Events Company
"His passion for his subject makes it more interesting for the participants. Great were the exercises to show applications of his teaching."

Posted by Andreas at 04:49 PM

The drivers in Melaka

I am not sure how this is possible but when I was in Melaka over the weekend to facilitate in the NLP training, I somehow had the feeling that Melakan's road behaviour is warriour like.

Saturday night, my wife and I drove to the local Jusco and boy, was I wrong to think that KL's drivers are rude.

There was an ongoing fighting on the road in Melaka for even the smallest space ahead. We parked at a pretty cramped parking zone, alongside the road. A car wanted to get out of that space and we wanted to get in. There was no one who waited for even a minute to let this driver get out of the space. Wow, I was amazed. And I have no idea why this is so. I lvoe Melaka, it is a beautiful place. Once you talk to people - when they are away from their cars - they are nice and friendly and very polite. But on the road - oops. Thank you very much!

Amendment
It is good to be able to change an opinion. I have now two comments to this entry stating that Melakans don't usually go out on Saturday or Sunday, since Melakka is invaded by KL drivers. And this is then the time when everything turns out to be rude on Melakka's streets. Are they right?

Posted by Andreas at 11:23 AM | Comments (4)

July 07, 2006

Shopping experience and lack of product knowledge

I understand - it is difficult to know all the different products available in the market. The iPods, the iRivers, the Creatives, not to count all the PDAs available and the different types of computers. Products are different and they function differently.

But then, don't expect the consumer to know.

I went to a computer shop yesterday evening in Megamall because I saw the Creative Vision M in their window. The one, I wrote about yesterday.

It looked beautiful and I wanted the salesman to firstly show me the manual and, secondly, lead me through the product. Show me how it goes. What to press. I mean, even so the interface might be simple and can be understood intuitively, hey - not all customers are geniusses in understanding the products. I read reviews online, sure, but then, since everybody is different, it is our job to ask questions, and your job to help us through. Man, we can do it together, if need is.

The guy in the shop had no clue whatsoever. He even said that he lacks knowledge and that I have to check the manual, which, incidentally is on the software disk, and online for more information. When can I check the manual? When I have bought the product.

Shopping can be quite an experience, can it not?

Posted by Andreas at 10:27 AM | Comments (2)

July 06, 2006

Online browsing, offline browsing for MP3 players

I am looking out for a new MP3 player. One with in-line recording for hypnotic tapes, or that is able to convert Audio CDs straigth into MP3 format.

This excludes an iPod, basically but leaves iRiver, Samsung and Creative.

My main way of shopping is to first check the Internet and read product reviews. CNet Asia and ZDnet are obvious choices.

Now, I found a couple of products, ranging across a certain price range. I currently consider the Creative Zen Vision M, the Samsung YH J70 and the iRiver E10. I had a Samsung before and somehow, it sucked quite a bit, so I am reluctant to go for another one.

Naturally, my next step is to go to KLCC, since my office is conveniently in its proximity. None of these three products are available in the few shops available there. Not in Best and neither in any of the smaller shops - I want to test the products, quite clearly, and see how they work, and how I get along with them.

Looking for the Creative Zen Vision M the other day, I went to the shop that apparently sold Creative products, but while the have another Creative MP3, it wasn't the one that I longed for. Instead, I heard the famous comment "sold out currently, comes back next week." I am not quite sure if I should or should not believe this.

Anyway, the point of this post is that these three products are the runner in the review sites that I surfed. Okay, they have their hiccups, but basically, I want to consider them - but also test them.

How come that none of those "online runners" are available in any of the shops? Okay, iRiver is hardly distributed in Malaysia, but Samsung and Creative are quite famous. Aren't salespeople checking online reviews as well, and also the standing and ranking of those products? Wouldn't it a boost for them to actually stock products that are in demand, online, since there might be demand offline?

Don't they lose potential customers? Probably, but since they don't know this, they probably don't care. I wonder.

Posted by Andreas at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)

Facilitator in NLP Certification Training

Hello and yuchee.

It is always fun to be acknowledged in an area of great interest, which, for me, is Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP.

I have been invited by KL Success Shop and Power Events Asia to be a facilitator in a training for a NLP Practitioner Certification that takes place in Melaka. Sadly, I am only able to join them from tomorrow onwards, while the course started yesterday. Nevertheless, it is a great opportunity for me - in fact, a fantastic opportunity, considering that the light keeps shining on my future path.

I will facilitate the training of Dr. William D. Horton, one of the leading trainers of NLP in the US, and now also internationally. He is promoted as "the founder of the National Federation of Neurolinguistic Psychology, NFNLP, one of the fastest growing organizations for NLPers in the world. NFNLP serves as a network for professionals who use NLP to share experiences, new techniques and applications, and other useful information from their fields of expertise. NFNLP and Dr. Horton have changed the face of NLP forever."

A couple of great days ahead of me.

(You read this article, you might want to read the related article here and here, you can read a feedback summary.


Posted by Andreas at 12:07 PM | Comments (2)

July 05, 2006

Man emerges from coma

Most people say that this is impossible - that someone emerges from a coma that lasted 19 years. Here, it happens and I am happy for the man, so rehabilitation will be tough. Imagine the change that the world underwent in the last 19 years, from the emergence of the Internet to 9/11 to oil crises and more.

Congratulations to Terry Wallis.

Doctors say that his brain was methodically rebuilding white matter, the infrastructure necessary to interact with the outside world - a very slow self-healing process.












Posted by Andreas at 03:28 PM | Comments (3)

Bullet Train to Singapore

What a WoW.

Imagine that - YTL proposes RM8 billion high-speed train link, according to today's New Straits Times.

They are writing that "construction will take three years but it could be two years before cross-border approvals and land acquisition are obtained."

Imagine the opportunities and challenges:

- AirAsia and MAS get a new competitor. Same with the bus companies that take a couple of hours to go to Singapore;

- Singaporeans and KL-ites can work in each other's city. Why not? When someone needs more than 2 hours to go home from KLCC to, let's say Klang, after work, they can also spend the time in the train. It will put pressure on the employees to upgrade their skill sets because labour market competition just got stronger;

- It will provide an economic push for both economies to develop. Singapore's backyard expanded to Kuala Lumpur and KL industries and companies have it way easier to compete in Singapore

- Wage pressure - will there be an alignment between Singaporean and KL wages? The connection can work as a leveller - why not?

- Students can study in each other's city

- I can go shopping in Singapore or visit friends. So can Singaporeans.

Any other opportunity?

Posted by Andreas at 11:54 AM | Comments (1)

July 04, 2006

Joining Fitness First

I know that there are plenty of complaints about Fitness First. I was one of those who wasn't too taken in by Fitness First and I was a member for a long time. Nevertheless, I have decided to join them again.

It's been more since two years since I left Fitness First. All the time since, I haven't done much excercising (even had to do a spellcheck on the word!).

I realised my own lameness when we had a Fudsal Game last week and that it was tough to keep up the speed after a while. I remember the time when I did my regular exercises and how fit I felt and how energetic. Sure, I can use hypnosis to stay healthier but there is nothing than a real feeling of sweat and exhaustion and fun.

So i am joining the club in KLCC. I wonder how it will go. I do know however that visualising and hypnosis will help me getting to my goals faster.

Healthy world, here I come!

Posted by Andreas at 10:32 AM | Comments (1)

July 02, 2006

The origin of the cones on the highway

I always wondered how those cones appear on the side of the emergency lane of the highway. Sometimes, they are just there, sometimes, a car is encircled by them

Now I know how it happens. This is a story of the mysterious appearance of the cones on the highway.

It was the evening of my mum's departure to Germany. Now about 2 weeks back. Her flight is close to midnight, at 11.55 PM. We take off from our home shortly psat 9.00 PM. So, plenty of time to be punctual at the airport, to have a decent hug and farewell and to give her time to buy some cigarettes for my niece in Germany.

Off we go, together with my boy and my wife. Driving somewhat fast, but still within speed limits. Small talk in the car, a few last reflections on the holiday and how much she enjoyed it here.

Somewhere on the highway, I hear a strange sound, something like a cluck, cluck, cluck, in the car. something unusual. I can hear it and my mum, who is also sitting in the front. Not so my wife who is sitting in the back, and tries to sleep.

I slow down the speed, but still can hear the noise. Okay - first things first - I decide to keep going and bring my mum to the airport. She has a plane to catch.

The last toll station before the airport. I pay and zoom off. While overtaking a car, I realise that the car loses speed - I move on to the emergency lane and the engine dies. Highly alert now. Both my wife and my mum ask, what has happen and so I explain in German and in English. Try to start the engine to no avail.

Opening the front of the car, but no hope. I am not a mechanic and have no idea where to start. Mywife takes off to a near-by PLUS phone booth. She comes back and says that Ronda will come but they are not sure at what time. My mum, not the most safeguarded with her nerves, starts a bit to panic. It is around 10.00 PM.

I call a taxi driver I know from my former company - but while he is willing to help, he s too far away and would take more than one hour to come.

My wife calls her sister and this sister gives her a number of a friend who also drives a taxi. He is in Subang and promises to come in 25 minutes.

It is 10.30 PM when he arrives. The minutes in between were torturous. My mum nervous or anxious. MY kid a bit panicky because he doesn't quite know what is happening. My wife impatient with my impatience to get things moving but not knowing how, since really, we are too dependent on may external events.

In between we also call a friend who is running a car "beautification" shop - we usually sent our car to him for repar and he forwards it to colleagues in the repair business. He will sent a friend with a tow truck.

The taxi driver is nice, and behaves as if he has all the time in the world. Says, he would like to check the timing belt, and starts to do so. Responds to our question for time, that we still have enough time.

The Taxi.JPEG


It is the timing belt that went kaboom on the highway. Ultimately, all my valves are gone as well. We call my friend and ask him how it is possible that the timing belt is gone when the car was just serviced. I am pretty mad with him.

The Ronda people arrive as well but they are awkward. They want to tow the car to a repair place, somewhere close to the Kessas Highway - but cannot give us a real location or address. We ask them for a license or a receipt but they don't have one. All they want to give is a mobile phone number - yeah right. How quick it is to cancel a mobile phone number. I don't trust them and we again call my friend and ask him if he has someone to tow the truck. He promises to send someone and calls back to confirm. In the meantime we ask the Ronda people to leave the cones around our car - what they then do. Now I know how the cones appear, is my thinking (and now you know how I came about the title)

It is 10.50 PM and I am thiking that it really is time to leave now. Tell my mum and son to get into the taxi. Ultimately, we drive off.

It is 11.10, when we arrive at the airport. Boarding time is 11.05 PM, but all goes well. Only that the farewell is very short, and that it ultimately takes us a long while to get back to town. We take the same taxi to get back to our car, the towtruck comes and tows our car away, after a few minutes.

The-Tow-Truck.jpg

We also take off back home, leaving the cones behind.

That is my story about the origin of cones on the highway!

The-Cones.jpg

Posted by Andreas at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)